Component transfer device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9193531-B2
Application number	US-201314097533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2013
Priority date	Aug 23, 2007
Publication date	Nov 24, 2015
Grant date	Nov 24, 2015

Abstract

A component transfer device according to the present invention includes a holding mechanism that positions and holds a component on a carrying surface located at a predetermined height and a pull-out unit that pulls out the component held on the carrying surface by the holding mechanism in a horizontal direction. The pull-out unit includes a grasping member that can separably grasp the component from a vertical direction, a cam member that causes the grasping member to perform a component grasping operation and a component releasing operation at predetermined timings by exercising a cam function to the grasping member, a driving mechanism that drives the cam member and the grasping member, and a restraint mechanism that restrains a relative movement of the cam member with respect to the movable holder upon grasping operation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A component transfer device comprising:
a holding mechanism for positioning and holding a component on a carrying surface located at a predetermined height; and
a pull-out unit for pulling out the component held by the holding mechanism in a horizontal direction,
wherein the pull-out unit includes a grasping member configured to separably grasp the component from an opposite direction, a cam member for exercising a cam function with respect to the grasping member to effect a grasping operation of the component and a releasing operation of the component at predetermined timings, and a driving mechanism for driving the cam member and the grasping member,
the holding mechanism includes an elevation unit for moving up and down a rack that accommodates the components on a plurality of stages,
the grasping member includes a first arm member having a first contact portion capable of separably coming into contact with one side surface of the component, and a second arm member having a second contact portion capable of separably coming into contact with another side surface of the component,
the cam member includes a guided portion that is guided reciprocatably in a pull-out direction of the component, a first cam portion that exercises the cam function with respect to the first arm member, and a second cam portion that exercises the cam function with respect to the second arm member,
the driving mechanism includes a movable holder that reciprocates in the pull-out direction, the movable holder having a horizontal guide portion for guiding the guided portion in the pull-out direction and another guide portion for guiding a first follower portion of the first arm member and a second follower portion of the second arm member in the opposite direction, and a first urging member for generating an urging force so as to make the first follower portion engage with the first cam portion and make the second follower portion engage with the second cam portion, and
further comprising a restraint mechanism for restraining a relative movement of the cam member with respect to the movable holder.

2. The component transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the restraint mechanism includes a restraint follower portion separably engaging with an inverse inclined portion inversely inclined to an inclined portion corresponding a cam function range where the first arm member and the second arm member grasp the component, and a second urging member for generating an urging force so as to make the restraint follower portion engage with the inverse inclined portion.

3. The component transfer device according to claim 2 , the movable holder includes a guide portion for guiding the restraint follower portion in a direction engaging with the first cam portion, and a hook portion on which a part of the second urging member is hooked.

4. The component transfer device according to claim 3 , wherein the second urging member is an elastic member, one end of the elastic member being hooked on the restraint follower portion and another end of the elastic member being hooked on the hook portion.

5. The component transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the cam member exercises the cam function with respect to the grasping member to effect a retracting operation for retracting toward a lower side from the carrying surface.

6. The component transfer device according to claim 1 , further comprising a carrying unit that supports and carries the component pulled out by the pull-out unit.

7. The component transfer device according to claim 1 , further comprising a push-out unit that pushes out the component positioned on the carrying surface located a predetermined distance toward the grasping member side.

8. A component transfer device comprising:
a holding mechanism for positioning and holding a component on a carrying surface located at a predetermined height; and
a pull-out unit for pulling out the component held by the holding mechanism in a horizontal direction,
wherein the pull-out unit includes a grasping member configured to separably grasp the component from a vertical direction, a cam member for exercising a cam function with respect to the grasping member to effect a grasping operation of the component and a releasing operation of the component at predetermined timings, and a driving mechanism for driving the cam member and the grasping member,
the holding mechanism includes an elevation unit for moving up and down a rack that accommodates the components on a plurality of stages in the vertical direction,
the grasping member includes an upper arm member having an upper contact portion capable of separably coming into contact with an upper surface of the component, and a lower arm member having a lower contact portion capable of separably coming into contact with a lower surface of the component,
the cam member includes a guided portion that is guided reciprocatably in a pull-out direction of the component, an upper cam portion that exercises the cam function of vertical movement with respect to the upper arm member, and a lower cam portion that exercises the cam function of vertical movement with respect to the lower arm member,
the driving mechanism includes a movable holder that reciprocates in the pull-out direction, the movable holder having a horizontal guide portion for guiding the guided portion in a predetermined range in the pull-out direction, and a vertical guide portion for guiding an upper follower portion of the upper arm member and a lower follower portion of the second arm member in a predetermined range in the vertical direction, and a first urging member for generating an urging force so as to make the upper follower portion engage with the upper cam portion and make the lower follower portion engage with the lower cam portion, and
further comprising a restraint mechanism for restraining a relative movement of the cam member with respect to the movable holder.

9. The component transfer device according to claim 8 , wherein the restraint mechanism includes a restraint follower portion separably engaging with an inverse inclined portion inversely inclined to an inclined portion corresponding a cam function range where the upper arm member and the lower arm member grasp the component, and a second urging member for generating an urging force so as to make the restraint follower portion engage with the inverse inclined portion.

10. The component transfer device according to claim 9 , the movable holder includes a vertical guide portion for guiding the restraint follower portion in a direction engaging with the first cam portion, and a hook portion on which a part of the second urging member is hooked.

11. The component transfer device according to claim 8 , wherein the second urging member is an elastic member, one end of the elastic member being hooked on the restraint follower portion and another end of the elastic member being hooked on the hook portion.

12. The component transfer device according to claim 8 , wherein the driving mechanism further includes a first stopper provided at one side where the holding mechanism is arranged and restricting a movement of the cam member alone, and a second stopper provided at another side opposite to a side where the holding mechanism is arranged and restricting a movement of the cam member alone.

13. The component transfer device according to claim 8 , wherein the cam member includes a restricting portion for preventing the lower follower portion from departing from the lower cam portion in a state that the upper arm member and the lower arm member grasp the component.

Assignees

• Hirata Spinning

Inventors

• Hirasawa Yoichi
• Tachibana Katsuyoshi
• Tateno Soichi
• Seki Toshihito

Classifications

• H10P72/3306

  Horizontal transfer of a single workpiece · CPC title

• H10P72/3302 Primary

  Mechanical parts of transfer devices · CPC title

• B65G2249/02

  Controlled or contamination-free environments or clean space conditions · CPC title

• B65G1/0435 Primary

  with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area · CPC title

• B65G49/064

  in a horizontal position (B65G49/066 takes precedence) · CPC title